Request to establish a Bachelors of Arts in Japanese Studies

Date: May 26, 2010
To: College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
From: Clarence Greene, Faculty Governance Program Assistant
Approved On: May 2, 2008
Implementation Date: 2010


Note: Deletions are strikethroughs. Insertions are underlined.


Catalog Copy

Major. 34 hours; Minor. 22 hours

C or better to continue in program

An oral and written exam administered by the staff and based on the proficiency standards of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Language (ACTFL). Those wishing teacher certification will have to pass the Praxis II Teachers’ Exam.

Japanese Majors are required to have a concentration in another discipline approved by the Japanese staff of the department. Examples would be Asian history, international business, international studies, another language, or any group of related courses relevant to the student’s interest and career plans.

A major in Japanese leading to a B.A. degree requires Japanese 2201, 2202, 3201, 3202, 3030, 3209, 3210, 3160, 4005, 4100 and two additional courses at the 3000 or 4000 level. In addition, 15 hours of related work (or a declared minor), approved by the Japanese language staff, will be required. Candidates for teacher licensure must also take two foreign language teaching methods classes offered jointly between the Department of Languages and Culture Studies and the College of Education, and satisfy all other requirements specified by the College of Education.

JAPN 1201. Elementary Japanese I. (4) Acquisition of communicative competence in speaking, listening comprehension, reading, and writing at a beginning level, with attention to cultural awareness. (Fall, Spring, Summer)

JAPN 1202. Elementary Japanese II. (4) Prerequisite: JAPN 1201 or permission of the Department. Continuation of JAPN 1201. (Spring, Summer, Fall)

JAPN 2201. Intermediate Japanese I. (4) Prerequisite: JAPN 1202 or permission of the Department. Acquisition of communicative competence in speaking, listening comprehension, reading, and writing at an intermediate level, with attention to cultural awareness. (Fall)

JAPN 2202. Intermediate Japanese II. (4) Prerequisite: JAPN 2201 or permission of the Department. Continuation of JAPN 2201. (Spring)

JAPN 2210. Business and Culture in Japan. (3).Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or permission of the Department. Conducted in English. An introduction to the structure, protocol, and cultural concepts of the Japanese-speaking business world. Development of intercultural understanding and communication skills for conducting business in Japan, including study of basic business vocabulary. (Yearly)

JAPN 3030. Anime and Japanese Pop Culture. (3).Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or permission of the Instructor. Conducted in English. This course examines anime (Japanese animation) and manga (comic books), two of the most important cultural products to appear in the post war period, as a way of understanding the changing character of contemporary Japanese culture and society. As anime is a rich and diverse medium, we will approach it from a variety of perspectives: as art, as social commentary, and as Japanese and global popular culture. (Yearly)

JAPN 3160. Topics in Japanese Film. (3) (W)Prerequisite: sophomore status and ENGL 1102. This course examines topics in Japanese film and culture. Issues to be examined include: the creative exchange of transnational influences, the emergence of the Japanese studio system as rival and complement to Hollywood, Japanese films and global cinema. All materials will be examined in historical, social, and aesthetic contexts. Lectures conducted in English. JAPN 3160 is a writing intensive course and also satisfies the art and literature goal for those under COGE requirements. May be repeated for credit with topic change. Please check with the instructor. (Fall, Spring)

JAPN 3201. Advanced Japanese Grammar, Composition and Conversation I. (4)* Prerequisite: JAPN 2202 or permission of the Department. Review of Japanese grammar and guided conversation on prepared topics. Emphasis on spoken Japanese. (Fall)

JAPN 3202. Advanced Japanese Grammar, Composition and Conversation II.(4)* Prerequisite: JAPN 3201 or permission of the Department. Review of Japanese grammar and guided compositions on prepared topics. Emphasis on vocabulary, idiomatic expressions, and stylistics. (Spring)

JAPN 3209. Japanese Civilization and Culture. (3) A study of the life and thought of Japanese-speaking people both past and present. (Fall and/or Spring)

JAPN 3210. Advanced Japanese Civilization, Culture and History. (3) Prerequisite: JAPN 2202 or permission of the instructor. Advanced study of Japanese Culture past and present.

JAPN 3800. Directed Individual Study. (1-3) Prerequisite: permission of the Department. Individual work on a selected area of study with the instructor, generally arranged during the preceding semester. May be repeated for credit. (On demand)

JAPN 4005. Japanese Studies (3).Prerequisite: one 3000-level Japanese course or permission from the department. Conducted in Japanese. Selected themes in Japanese culture and society with intensive intercultural communication practice in reading, writing, listening, speaking, and translation/interpretation. (Spring)

JAPN 4100. JLPT Prep(3) Prerequisite: JAPN 3201 or permission from the department. This course provides a preparatory study for the Japanese Language Proficiency Test, whose proficiency ratings are recognized internationally. (Fall)

JAPN 4410. Professional Internship in Japanese.(1-6) Prerequisites: JAPN 3201 and 3202, or equivalent and consent of the Department. Faculty-supervised field and/or research experience in a cooperating professional (e.g., business) or community organization. Contents of internship based upon a contractual agreement among the student, department, and business or community organization. (Fall, Spring, Summer)

JAPN 4800. Directed Individual Study. (1-3) Prerequisite: permission of the Department; normally open only to Japanese majors and minors. Individual work on a selected area study. To be arranged with the instructor, generally during the preceding semester, and by special permission only. May be repeated for credit. (On demand)